How to get the medication I need without being labeled as a drug-seeker?

Question by Kara: How to get the medication I need without being labeled as a drug-seeker?
I have suffered from social anxiety for as long as I can remember. About 6 months ago I decided I had had enough and went to my family doctor for help. I was open minded when she suggested anti depressants and gave it a go, hoping they would be the answer. I took them regularly for a month with no real effect on my anxiety so when I went in for a follow up I mentioned to her that it wasn’t working and I was experiencing side effects such as depression, insomnia, and irritability. I asked if there was something else I could try and she looked at me and said “I’m not going to give you Ativan or Xanax because of the potential for abuse.” So she gave me a different anti-depressant. Again, after a month or so of use, I experienced horrible side-effects and was given yet another anti-depressant. This went on for 6 months and had NO effect on my anxiety, actually made it worse in some respects. I have discontinued using them and go through life dealing with my anxiety, which is better than the depression and sleeplessness caused by anti-depressants. I was shocked at her narrow mindedness to one treatment that wasn’t working. Is it time to find a new doc or is there another approach I can take with her? I just want to be able to do normal things like go to the store without a panic attack. Please know that I am not seeking addictive drugs, but if that is what will help me, it’s what I want. I have tried every conservative treatment in the books and am ready to be done with it.

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